| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Bio Fuels
Lord Palmer asked her Majesty's Government:
- What is the fuel duty on bioethanol in pence per litre; and what, converted to pence per litre equivalent, is the fuel duty on liquid petroleum.[HL5721]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Bioethanol is currently taxed at 45.82p per litre. Liquid petroleum gas is taxed at 9p per kilogramme (which is the equivalent of 17.6 pence per litre).
Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder
Lord Lucas asked her Majesty's Government:
- In the context of the draft Mental Health Bill, what evidence they are aware of as to the reliability and consistency of the diagnosis "dangerous severe personality disorder"; and whether they are aware of any studies which demonstrate biases in this diagnosis in terms of gender, social class, or (in respect of the distribution of each characteristic in the population as a whole) the "likeability" of the patient as perceived by the person making the diagnosis.[HL5312]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): "Dangerous severe personality disorder", or DSPD, does not exist as a clinical or legal diagnosis in its own right. There are no specific "DSPD" provisions in the draft Mental Health Bill. The term is a working definition. It is designed to cover individuals who show significant disorder of personality; present a significant risk of causing serious physical or psychological harm from which the victim would find it difficult or impossible to recover, (eg homicide, rape, arson; and in whom the risk presented appears to be functionally linked to the personality disorder.
A developmental process of assessment designed to operationalise the above criteria is currently being piloted at HMP Whitemoor. The assessment process is comprehensive and, within a 16-week period, a number of instruments for the assessment of serious re-offending and severe personality disorder are completed. Prisoners are also observed and clinical judgements are made about the functional relationship between their disorder of personality and their serious offending behaviour.
Due to the developmental nature of the assessment pilot and the fact that DSPD, as currently conceptualised, does not exist as a clinical disorder, no previous research has been conducted specifically into the reliability and consistency of its "diagnosis". However, the assessment pilot is currently being independently evaluated. The aims of the research, among others, are to evaluate the reliability of the process and to consider whether it is objective and does not discriminate against any particular group of individuals in respect of social, cultural or ethnic background. The evaluation does not consider the issue of gender because all prisoners eligible for the HMP Whitemoor pilot are male.
The assessment process for DSPD does, however, build upon an existing evidence base about the assessment of severe personality disorder and the risk assessment of dangerous offending behaviour. Research shows that the instruments that are being used as part of this process are consistent, in that different clinicians are highly likely to arrive at the same diagnosis, and the measures are also shown to be stable across time.
There is no known evidence to suggest that the tools used in the DSPD assessment process have a gender or social class bias. However, the evidence base on the assessment of dangerousness and severe personality disorder is evolving. Research is currently ongoing to consider these issues.
There is also no known research to suggest that the "likeability" of the patient, as perceived by the person making the diagnosis, influences the assessment. However, the need to guard against the possibility is well recognised. The assessment for DSPD therefore makes use of objective assessment tools in order to help eliminate, as much as possible, any subjectivity in the assessment process.
Merseyside Police Numbers
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there will be an increase in the number of police officers on the beat patrolling areas of Merseyside, and especially the town of Southport.[HL5323]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government's Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) provides Merseyside Police with funding to recruit 332 officers over and
above the force's existing plans between 2000–01 and 2002–03.The CFF has assisted Merseyside Police in stabilising the previous decline in overall police numbers in the force which would otherwise have taken place as a result of the decline in the population sent by the force. There were 1,113 police officers in Merseyside as at 31 January 2002. This was 32 more than in March 2001.
Merseyside Police is split into five local authority areas, Sefton area covers Southport and has a complement of 450 police officers and 86 civilian support staff.
Figures collected by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary show that in 2000–01 the number of officers allocated to patrol duties was 2,313. However, the distribution of resources and deployment of officers within Merseyside is a matter for the chief constable of the force (Norman Bettison Esq QPM). I understand from the Chief Constable that the actual number of officers on duty in each neighbourhood varies hour by hour, as officers' shifts are planned to match resources as closely as possible to demand.
Funding of Terrorism and International Crime
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What measures they are taking to ensure that no British business facilitates or orchestrates tobacco smuggling, or assists in the funding of terrorism or the support of the illicit drug trade, organised crime or money laundering.[HL5422]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: These activities are criminal under United Kingdom law and where there is evidence that offences have been committed offenders will be prosecuted. The adequacy of the criminal law in these areas is kept under review and in the case of money laundering existing provisions have recently been substantially strengthened in the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Firearms Register
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the development phase of the design and development of the central register of persons who have applied for or been granted a shotgun or firearm certificate on the police national computer, as required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 which came into force on 1 October 1997, has been completed; and whether the pilot operation is still expected to start in September; and[HL5459]
Why on 1 October this year the requirement for the establishment of a central register of persons who have applied for a shotgun or firearm certificate under Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act
- 1997, which came into force on 1 October 1997, will not have been complied with for a period of five years; and whether they will list other statutory obligations which the Home Office has failed to comply with for a period of five years or more.[HL5460]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No time limit for establishing a register is specified in the Act. The Police Information Technology Organisation is taking the project forward as one part of the development of the Police/Home Office Extended Names Index (PHOENIX).
I understand that the project board is currently considering their approach to PHOENIX to ensure value for money. We will write to the noble Lord once a decision has been made on the next steps to be taken.
Juvenile Offenders
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many remanded juveniles, if any, were held in police cells in the months of May and June.[HL5609]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We do not hold separate figures on the number of remanded juveniles held in police cells centrally.
However the numbers of remanded and sentenced juveniles held in police cells were 157 in May 2002 and 91 in June 2002. These figures have been provided by the Youth Justice Board who purchase juvenile secure accommodation, and are approximate. Juveniles are usually only held in police cells for one night because they are unable to reach their intended accommodation in time for admission on the same day. This problem is more serious in the south, and has eased following the availability of 112 extra places at Feltham for juveniles.
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many children classified as vulnerable by the local youth offending team have been held in prison rather than in secure units in May and June.[HL5611]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The number of young people deemed to be vulnerable by youth offending teams and placed in prison was 84 in May 2002 and 58 in June 2002.
We are working to increase the number of non-Prison Service accommodation available for juveniles. During June an extra 32 places were made available at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre; and we are in the process of making an extra 35 local authority secure unit places available. And in November we are expecting an extra 32 places in Medway Secure Training Centre.
Public Order Act: Internet
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the words "displays to another person any writing, sign or visible representations" in Sections 4, 4A and 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 includes placing that material on the Internet and if not whether they consider that these sections should be amended so that material on the Internet is covered.[HL5655]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I understand that placing material on the Internet would constitute a display for the purposes of Sections 4, 4A and 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page